The daughter of former NRL hardman Lance Thompson has revealed diabetes claimed her father’s life as she urges Australians to take the condition seriously.
For almost eight years, Thompson’s death at his Cronulla home in August 2018 was publicly described only as a medical episode.
His daughter Shalisse has now disclosed that the 40-year-old died from diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal complication of type 1 diabetes.
Speaking publicly about the tragedy for the first time during National Diabetes Week, she said she hoped her family’s loss could help save others.
‘It is absolutely life threatening. Take it from my experience and take it from my family’s experience,’ she told Channel Seven.
Shalisse was just 17 when she found her father at home and called for help.
Lance Thompson’s daughter Shalisse revealed diabetic ketoacidosis claimed her father’s life in 2018
The former Dragons and Sharks forward died at his Cronulla home aged just 40
Shalisse was only 17 when she found her father and called for help that night
She described it as the worst day of her life but said she tried not to relive what happened, instead choosing to remember Thompson as a devoted father and formidable footballer.
‘He was a huge part of my life, he was my best mate… he was a larrikin and loved by absolutely everybody.’
Thompson was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes later in life while playing in the NRL and managed the condition with insulin injections.
Shalisse said she watched him live with diabetes throughout her childhood without understanding how dangerous its complications could be.
‘I didn’t realise obviously when I was a child the severity of it until what happened to my dad,’ she said.
Now 25, she wants Australians living with either form of diabetes, along with their families, to recognise the risks.
‘It’s definitely life threatening and everyone needs to really take it seriously. Type 1 or Type 2, it’s a serious condition.’
Diabetic ketoacidosis develops when the body does not have enough insulin to use blood sugar for energy and begins breaking down fat instead.
For almost eight years, Thompson’s death had been publicly described only as a medical episode
Thompson developed type one diabetes during his playing career and managed it with insulin injections
That process produces acids known as ketones, which can build to dangerous levels in the blood and require urgent medical treatment.
Thompson was one of rugby league’s toughest and most popular forwards during a first-grade career spanning 239 matches.
He made his St George debut as a 17-year-old in 1995 and played in the club’s 1996 grand final loss to Manly.
The second-rower later became a foundation member of the merged St George Illawarra side and featured in its 1999 grand final defeat against Melbourne.
A crowd favourite at Kogarah and Wollongong, Thompson left the Dragons after the 2005 season and finished his career with Cronulla.
He also represented NSW City five times between 2001 and 2007.
Thompson announced his retirement in 2008 because of an ongoing knee injury and his diabetes diagnosis, saying at the time that he had ‘one last game left in him’.
He scored a try in his final appearance before the Sharks suffered a 21-20 golden-point loss to Penrith.
After retiring, Thompson coached Cronulla’s NSW Cup side and later managed the bistro at Woolooware Golf Club.
More than 400 friends, relatives, former teammates and coaches gathered for a tribute luncheon held in his honour in February 2019.
Diabetes Australia estimates almost two million Australians are living with the chronic condition, including about 500,000 who have not been diagnosed.
Group chief executive Justine Cain said its seriousness was often underestimated.
‘It’s a very serious chronic disease, and people often underestimate just how serious a diabetes diagnosis is,’ she said.
‘People can live well with diabetes, but it also has serious complications. Complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputations, and even dementia.’
More than 120 Australians undergo diabetes-related amputations each week.
‘It’s quite shocking,’ Cain said.
Diabetes Australia is marking National Diabetes Week with its Living Out Loud campaign, encouraging people affected by the condition to share their experiences under the theme Stronger Together.
